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I’m real.
And I’m living the most amazing life.
As we emerge from a small outcropping of trees, the clearing ahead leads down to a green valley with a large lake. Just beyond the lake is a small stone tower 3 stories high. It seems to lean to one side, far beyond what should be physically possible. It looks old and abandoned, with obvious holes in the roofing and stones missing halfway up the tower.
It’s like Merlin’s tower from that old cartoon.
There’s no obvious path leading up to the tower. Whoever is in there doesn’t leave often and has few visitors.
“This is it.”
“Huh. There actually is a tower,” I state.
“Did you doubt me?” Sunder’s eyebrows are raised.
I roll my eyes. “A little. I mean, having an actual wizard in a tower is even more far fetched than a lot of this.”
“He is not a wizard, he’s…”
“Does he have magic? He’s a wizard.”
Sunder side eyes me. “Not a wizard. Ancient Magi. Powerful and wise beyond our understanding.”
“Sound like a wizard. Anyway. So… Do we sneak in like ninjas? I’ve always wanted to storm a castle,” I grin widely.
Sunder snorts. “You’d be as intimidating as a ladybug storming that tower. Yurghen is an ancient mage, probably one of the most powerful that ever existed. He’s a High Elf, so he’s thousands of years old. He probably already knows we’re here, anyway.”
“Do you really think he’ll help us?”
“I talked to him briefly years ago, when I first started this -”
“Quest!” I interrupt. It’s a quest; I’m calling it that forever. Magical bucket list, check.
Smiling, Sunder continues, “Quest. He’s an expert on the origins and limits of bond magic. He was very interested in my predicament.”
“Okay. Interested like help-a-friend, or interested like strap-you-down-and-dissect-you-for-parts?” I ask, a small thread of worry twisting through my gut.
Sunder’s face drops. “I guess we’ll just have to see.”
He shrugs before we stand and begin the slow descent down into the lush valley. It is overgrown with wildflowers and tall grasses. Turns out that some things are consistent across both time and space, and magical flowers have pollen just like any other plant does. My allergies flare, making my throat and eyes itch. I want to claw my face off by the time we reach the lake.
Can I conjure a small throat scratcher? Probably a terrible idea… What about an old school diver’s helmet? Hmm… Sunder turns to look at me, and his eyes widen slightly at my sudden red, watery eyes and runny nose.
“Shut up. Is there a pharmacy nearby? I’m allergic to these floral monstrosities,” I say, pointing at the large blooming flowers. Of course, since my throat is so thick with the nasty flower pollen, it comes out like I’m underwater.
Sunder shakes his head. “We’ll be out of it soon.”
“I’m gonna be dead by then,” I grit out.
Sunder rolls his eyes, then pulls at the corner of his billowy tunic shirt. He hands me the ripped piece of fabric.
Gratefully, I blow my nose. “Thank you,” I whisper.
“You can’t be taken down by a flower, Mira. You’re my mate and we need to complete our bond. Buck up,” he says. However, there’s no bite to his words. They seem almost teasing, and his eyes are light.
I smile. “Got it. Will do my best to fight off killer histamine-producing plants. Noted.”
He shakes his head and continues around the lake’s edge.
